Unknown Sailor on Christmas Island
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On or about 6 February 1942 a carley float, containing a corpse, was recovered off Christmas Island in the Indian Ocean.
The body was partly decomposed and clothed in a blue boilersuit which had been bleached white by exposure. A shoe or boot was also found in the carley float, and the island doctor believed that it did not belong to the deceased. The body was examined by the doctor, who found that it was the body of a white male, but as there were no personal effects or identifying items on the body, his identity could not be determined. After examination the remains were interred in a grave in the old European cemetery on Christmas Island. The burial was conducted with "military honours".
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[edit] Clothing
In addition to the boiler suit, bleached white from exposure, a shoe was found beside the body. According to reports, the Medical Officer did not believe the shoe belonged to the dead man, raising the possibility that there may have been others on the float. The descriptions of the shoe vary somewhat: Mr Clark states that the shoe was "probably branded 'CROWN BRAND PTY 4", although he had some doubts about "CROWN" and "4". Harbour Master Captain Smith's recollection was of a canvas shoe branded either "McCOWAN" or "McEWAN" and also "PTY" followed by a crown and/or a broad arrow.
[edit] The Nature of the Carley Float
In Captain Smith's opinion, the Carley float in question was undoubtedly of Naval pattern. The wooden decking was branded with the word "PATENT". One hole, apparently caused by a bullet was found in this decking.
The outer covering of the float was damaged in several places, a few pieces of metal being found embedded in the kapok filling. One of these pieces, in the opinion of the gun's crew on the island, was what remained of a bullet.
[edit] Origins of the Carley Float
During the period leading up to the Japanese occupation of Singapore and the Netherlands East Indies large numbers of craft attempted to flee the region to Australia. Many were lost. No records are known to exist giving details of these craft or their occupants and it is possible the float may have originated from one of them.
[edit] Comparison of Vessels as Possible Source for Carley Float
| Name of Ship | Date Lost | Location | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Velebit | 26.6.41 | 10N, 88E | Current drift towards Malacca Strait. |
| Sydney | 19.11.41 | 26S, 111E (est) | |
| Prince of Wales | 10.12.41 | 334'N, 10426'E | Debris from the ship was subject to the clockwise gyres of Northern Hemisphere Oceans and the Equatorial Counter Current, which flows West at and to approx. 7 north of the Equator. Opposing currents South from Sunda Strait to Christmas Island. |
| Repulse | 10.12.41 | 337'N, 10421'E | As for Prince of Wales. |
| Banka | 10.12.41 | East Coast of Malaya | At or North of the equator, between 0 and approximately 7N, the Indian Counter Current flows west. Debris (if any) would have to negotiate the various Straits and localised currents, to come into the Indian Ocean. |
| Kampar | 13.12.41 | Penang | As for Banka. Also too fast and opposing currents in Malacca Strait. |
| Perekop | 18.12.41 | Near Senoa, Natuna Island, Dutch East Indies | As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Kudat | 30.12.41 | Port Swettenham | Lloyds reported the loss of Kudat as occurring on 10 January 1942. Flow of debris: see comments for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Kwangtung | 4.1.42 | 0912'S, 11110'E | Carley floats did not form part of her peacetime equipment; Kwangtung never visited Australia. However, possibility of drift towards Christmas Island. |
| Baynain | 11.1.42 | Off Tarakan, Dutch East Indies | Captured. Too fast. |
| Prins van Oranje | 11.1.42 | South of Boengoe Island, Tarakan | Too fast. |
| Jalarajan | 14.1.42 | 0012' S, 97E | Current drift westward away from Christmas Island. |
| Senang | 16.1.42 | 0115' N, 10450'E | As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Kelana | 16.1.42 | Malaya | As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Eidsvold | 20.1.42 | Off Christmas Island | All 31 crew saved. |
| Zannis L Cambanis | 21.1.42 | 0115'N, 10431'E | As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Larut | 22.1.42 | East Coast of Sumatra | Crew saved. Also too fast, and opposing currents. |
| Raub | 22.1.42 | East Coast of Sumatra | Crew saved. |
| Taisang | 24.1.42 | 0055'N, 10335'E | As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Thanet | 27.1.42 | 240'N, 10342'E | Subject to the same forces which governed the ocean currents as for Repulse and Prince of Wales. Also too fast. |
| Harpa | 27.1.42 | Main Strait, Singapore | Main Singapore Strait, (115'N, 10400'E). As for Banka. Also too fast. |
| Giang Seng | 29.1.42 | Dutch East Indies | Not recorded in Lloyd's War Losses, but Dutch sources indicate vessel not sunk until 2 March 1942. Sunk near Surabaya, situated on the Madura Strait which opens onto the Java Sea (not the Indian Ocean). |
